I'm creating a design portfolio and I've used a template. The image gallery displays in the collection page as one long row of images. Is there any way to make this line 3 images wide and infinite images long? Probably a stupid question but I can't seem to find any answers online

Hey everyone,
I am looking for a modern template that I can use for my personal website. It features one image of me, my CV, the projects that I worked on, and links to my socials.
The website does not include many pictures and most themes I find are heavily picture based. The most part will be text / tables though.
Right now I am running the unRovr theme, but it feels kind of dated lately. I am looking for something more elegant now and found the Bridge theme. However, I've read some bad experiences with them on this subreddit.
Do you have any advice foagainst this theme or for any other themes that might fit?

Graphic design, a field blending creativity and technology, has evolved significantly in recent years. It encompasses various forms of visual communication, from digital and print media to web and multimedia design. Whether you're a budding designer or an experienced professional looking to stay current, understanding the latest trends, tools, and techniques is essential. This blog explores the dynamic world of graphic design, highlighting key aspects that define this ever-changing industry.

Emerging Trends in Graphic Design

1. Minimalism and Simplicity: Less is more. This trend emphasizes clean, simple designs that communicate messages effectively without unnecessary clutter. Minimalism focuses on essential elements, using whitespace strategically to create a balanced and engaging composition.
2. Bold Typography: Typography is no longer just about readability; it's a powerful visual element. Designers are experimenting with oversized, bold fonts that grab attention and convey strong messages. Custom typefaces and hand-drawn lettering are also gaining popularity.
3. 3D Design and Realism: With advancements in software, 3D design has become more accessible. This trend includes hyper-realistic textures and elements that add depth and dimension to designs, creating immersive visual experiences.
4. Sustainability and Eco-friendly Design: As awareness of environmental issues grows, sustainable design practices are becoming more prevalent. This involves using eco-friendly materials, promoting digital over print media, and creating designs that advocate for environmental responsibility.
5. Animated and Interactive Design: Motion graphics and interactive elements are increasingly used to engage audiences. From subtle animations on websites to full-fledged video graphics, motion adds a dynamic layer to static designs.

Essential Tools for Graphic Designers

1. Adobe Creative Suite: A staple in the graphic design world, this suite includes Photoshop for photo editing, Illustrator for vector graphics, InDesign for layout design, and more. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for various design needs.
2. Figma: Known for its collaborative features, Figma is a web-based design tool that allows multiple designers to work on the same project simultaneously. It's particularly popular for UI/UX design.
3. Canva: For those who need to create quick and professional-looking designs, Canva offers an intuitive interface with numerous templates and design elements. It's ideal for social media graphics, presentations, and marketing materials.
4. Procreate: This digital painting app for iPad is beloved by illustrators and designers for its natural drawing experience and extensive brush library. It's perfect for creating detailed artwork and illustrations.
5. Affinity Designer: An affordable alternative to Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer provides robust vector graphic design tools. It's suitable for both professional and amateur designers.

Key Techniques for Effective Graphic Design

1. Understanding Color Theory: Color is a crucial aspect of design that affects mood, perception, and behavior. Familiarize yourself with the color wheel, complementary colors, and the psychological impacts of different hues.
2. Mastering Composition and Layout: The arrangement of elements within a design is vital for clarity and aesthetic appeal. Techniques such as the rule of thirds, grid systems, and alignment help create balanced and visually pleasing compositions.
3. Typography Skills: Beyond selecting fonts, understanding kerning, leading, and tracking is essential. Typography should enhance readability while complementing the overall design aesthetic.
4. Effective Use of Imagery: High-quality images can elevate a design. Learn to select or create images that support your message and maintain consistency in style and tone.
5. Feedback and Iteration: Design is an iterative process. Seek feedback from peers and clients, and be prepared to revise your work. Iteration helps refine designs and ensures they meet the intended goals.

Conclusion

The world of graphic design is both challenging and rewarding, offering endless opportunities for creativity and innovation. By staying informed about trends, mastering essential tools, and honing your techniques, you can create impactful designs that resonate with audiences. Whether you're designing for digital platforms or traditional media, the principles of effective graphic design remain constant: clarity, creativity, and communication. Keep exploring and experimenting to push the boundaries of what's possible in graphic design.

When I was 4 or 5 , traveling cross country..I saw a beautiful long blonde hair woman in a long sleeved long dress with tiny flowers print standing in the middle of a flat golden plain with the wind blowing her hair and dress and I KNEW she had died by a wildfire soon after. ( I still remember the image and thought later, maybe reincarnation memory). 9 yo..AF Brat we visited Ephesus, Turkey..there was a tunnel leading up to the colosseum grounds from the cages and prison cells below and I saw a woman in traditional biblical garb with a blue shaw over her hair bent over with her hand on the wall for support, blinking up into the bright sunlight ..I had the overwhelming urge to touch the Wall were her hand had been. (Just my imagination?)
Years go by and I am diagnosed with an incurable eye desease ..my sister and I go on a road trip, for historical sites while I still can, and then I KNEW this was a ghost energy. Shiloh National Cemetery Park Walking around I saw a copse of trees with 1 Confederate marker among Union Markers and I wondered how he got there. Suddenly (,in my minds eye?) I SAW a very young slim man with dark hair stumble out of the dense brush and be confronted by the sight of Union men sitting around a fire. (Imagination again?) Later my sister and I were standing at the dedication plaque podium and my sister said how sad this place made her feel ..suddenly I felt a sense of Pride and said How proud that their sacrifice was being honored ..then felt joy and laughed and tried to shoulder bump the Confederate ghost... I KNEW, but could not see, standing beside me. Sight deteriated fast, facial recognition gone. It's a blurry world. Btw I can only type on my phone close to my face. Black screen. White lettering. Allen, Texas standing outside grocery store waiting on my ride, I look up and not 2 feet from me is an older gentleman with full head of grey hair and bushy mustache smiling and staring at me..not saying a word..at the time I didn't wonder HOW I could see him so clearly..minutes go by..silence..I'm wondering if he is just standing there judging me, my attire, etc. I turn my back on him and ignore him. Thought no more about it UNTIL..2 years later living in Mabank, Texas AGAIN outside waiting for my ride..Hes THERE.. 2 feet from me, silent and smiling at me..75 miles distance from Allen..thats when I realize I can SEE him as I did in Allen because I RECOGNIZED him from Allen, remember facial recognition is gone, I can't even see myself in a mirror. That shocked me. I don't know him. I walked away. Now you are going to say I'm crazy or hullicinating ..4 years later I'm living in Kentucky and I visit an Amish Store as I'm waiting in line at cashier I see an Amish couple in traditional garb standing perfectly still staring at me I see her clearly with her bonnet and long dark green dress, slim with hard lines on her face (wrinkles) she barely comes to her husband's shou, I look at him and see his white shirt and red suspenders BUT there is a black blob that covers his face and part of his shoulder..ok I think, blind spot from my eyesight, not wondering why I can SEE her so clearly, turn to look at cashier and I can SEE her plump, blonde middle age with glasses smiling at me and I suddenly think..she is connected to the couple..then Memory lapse..until I found myself with a receipt in hand saying "It will be okay, It will be okay" to a crying cashier who won't look up at me. Last experience was December 5th 2023 Weekend getaway with my sister and her DIL. Nashville, TN, Broadway St. Bar hopping, I had slowed down drinking and had switched to water as we walked into Blake's Place. DIL was very drunk and got nose to nose with bouncer..suddenly I felt such Pride for the bouncer and could see him and DIL clearly.,he stood there stoic and unresponsive to DIL barrage of drunk BS till she gave up and moved on. He had a black stocking cap and heavy coat and gloves on, roundish face but not fat..small nose and thin lips. I went to the back of the dance floor and planted myself there so my sister would know where I was and listenened/enjoyed the band, with my water. To the right of me I saw, as if in a spotlight a tall blonde man, in a Red short sleeve t shirt and huge biceps standing there just staring at me, not drinking or moving to the music as the blurry guys behind him were..song after song, he just stood there watching me.. I felt a little self conscious.. I am now 60 so WTH? Eventually my sister came to tell me it was time to leave to get DIL to hotel. Memory lapse..(not drunk, had been on water)..dont remember anything until we were outside on sidewalk when the bouncer came running out to me and grabbed my arm and with a shocked expression on his face demanded.."What did you just say tome! What did you just say to me!" ...I DONT KNOW! I sheepishly say "Best Band" and he stood back and watched us as we moved on down the road. I beleve Red shirt was a ghost connected to him and said something to him thru me. But unlike Shiloh, but like Amish Store..I don't know what the message was.was. If I hadn't effected these two people the way I had, I would think I had had hulicinations or a very vivid imagination..but seeing the stoic bouncer so shook up..convinced me..and I am trying to find explanation/validation that I am not crazy.

I read acotar a while ago and forgot abt it until I got back into it a yr ago..when I went online to read comments and art...I found a lot of gwyn. I was excited...I thought it's a new major character - safe to say when I actually read acosf I was majorly let down abt the fake hype
So I know there's a massive ship war going on, this post is unrelated to the that. This is talking abt gwyn and her character being hyped up to something she isnt as a whole being quite ...ridiculous
Let's start with her introduction- Sjm had written her inspired by her real life friend as a support system to nesta. Let me say this first. Gwyn and emerie don't know Nesta all that well. They are card board copies to being Nesta's yes girls. They don't know her ugly and cruel sides as well as feyre and elain do . So I do think if Nesta were to show them her true biting nature - they would ditch .
Now to gwyn. I don't think I've seen a character given more personality then gwn by a fandom before. I've seen draco malfoy become a simp for hermione granger in fanon but those fans do understand that it is just crack.
I'm going to say this...gwyns abuse and what she suffered was terrible and no one should be forced to live through that. I admire how she's getting out of her shell, is making friends and is healing . what emerie went through was just as heart breaking and I'm glad that whilst Nesta is awful to her sister's...she's good to these 2 girls and have helped in their recoveries. be it through reading books or chilling in massive baths..it's healing so good for them. this post is focused on the toxicity in this fandom
With gwyn ,fans have given her so many characteristics that they grasped onto from very little information given to us from the book itself. Some believe she's the heiress to the autumn court. Some believe she's a siren. Some believe she can have bat babies because her bones are pliable ?? Just to point out - her hips aren't going to evacuate the room to birth a bat child. Some abuse her trauma and abuse to hate on other people and characters in the book.
If you love a character well and good- but to bolster said character that was just properly introduced to bully others is sad. People have written essays as to why gwyn would be a good mother to nyx and not feyre...why gwyn should look after nyx. Why gwyn should yell at feyre over nyx? I don't understand where all of this comes from. Feyre and gwyn haven't even met ..why would she lecture her high lady on maternal instincts ? The women who nearly died to birth her son ? Why create this image of gwyn that doesn't exist.
Now to gwyn in acosf.
She was initially rude to Nesta- which Nesta enjoyed coz she's weird like that. But can we talk about how she 1. Didn't respect Nesta's request for secrecy and ran to tattle to merril ? And 2. Her instance to reach the top of the mountain which was extremely dangerous for not just her but all three women? She was carried ... due to her stubbornness. Which was extremely dangerous. Being competive is one thing...endangering your friends ...an entirely different thing. This is the character we saw...an entirely different version to the fanon gwyn created. Canon gwyn was slightly naive and not very reliable. Fanon gwyn is going to rule velaris ?
Now - I also want to question why absolutely no head canons like this exist for emerie ? She gets no love from fans like Nesta and gwyn. shes the forgotten valkyrie . Why don't we see people saying emerie should berate feyre on motherhood. Who even thought feyre should be berated for her parenting style? We barely saw nyx and feyre
Why do no head canons exist for mor and amren like this ? Why is mor bashed by the fandom despite being tortured and abused ? Why is it when we question gwyn being a tattle to merril everyone claims we hating on women ? Why the double standards , bullying and hypocrisy in the fandom ? And why is it always gwyn being the hero whilst other characters like feyre - the protagonist- should be bashed to bolster up gwyn
I truly do believe the fandom had run rampant with imagination due to having no new book for 3 years. I truly hope the next book is announced soon so all the enemosity dies down in the fandom...but I know that's me being naive

The dropshipping business model has become a popular way for aspiring entrepreneurs to start an e-commerce store without the hassle of inventory management. If you’re looking to launch your own dropshipping business, this guide will walk you through the essential steps to get started. For more info you can visit halla-systems.kr website.

1. Research and Choose a Niche

The first step in creating a dropshipping business is to identify a niche. A niche is a specific segment of the market that you will target with your products. Choosing the right niche is crucial for your success.

• Identify Market Trends: Use tools like Google Trends, social media platforms, and e-commerce marketplaces to find trending products.
• Evaluate Competition: Analyze your competitors to understand the market landscape. Look for niches that are not overly saturated.
• Consider Profit Margins: Focus on products with good profit margins. Avoid niches with low-cost, low-margin products.

2. Conduct Market Research

Once you’ve selected a niche, conduct thorough market research to validate your choice. Understand your target audience, their needs, and preferences. Look for opportunities to offer unique value through your products.

3. Find Reliable Suppliers

Your suppliers are critical to your dropshipping business's success. They provide the products and handle the fulfillment process, so it’s important to choose them wisely.

• Use Supplier Directories: Websites like AliExpress, Oberlo, and SaleHoo offer extensive directories of dropshipping suppliers.
• Check Reviews and Ratings: Look for suppliers with positive feedback and high ratings from other dropshippers.
• Communicate Directly: Reach out to potential suppliers to gauge their responsiveness and reliability.

4. Build Your Online Store

Creating a professional and user-friendly online store is essential. Choose an e-commerce platform that suits your needs and budget.

• Select an E-commerce Platform: Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce are popular choices for dropshipping businesses.
• Design Your Store: Use themes and templates to design an attractive and functional website. Focus on creating a seamless user experience.
• Add Products: Import products from your chosen suppliers. Ensure each product listing includes high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and accurate pricing.

5. Set Up Payment Processing

To start accepting payments, set up a payment gateway. Choose a reliable and secure option to ensure smooth transactions.

• Popular Payment Gateways: PayPal, Stripe, and Square are widely used and trusted by online businesses.
• Ensure Security: Implement SSL certificates to encrypt data and protect customer information.

6. Develop a Marketing Strategy

A strong marketing strategy is vital for driving traffic to your store and converting visitors into customers.

• Utilize Social Media: Create profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Share engaging content and interact with your audience.
• Invest in Paid Advertising: Use Google Ads and social media ads to reach a broader audience. Target your ads based on demographics and interests.
• Content Marketing: Start a blog or create video content related to your niche. Provide valuable information to attract and engage potential customers.
• Email Marketing: Build an email list and send newsletters with product updates, promotions, and valuable content.

7. Optimize for SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) helps your store rank higher in search engine results, driving organic traffic to your website.

• Keyword Research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify relevant keywords for your niche.
• On-Page SEO: Optimize your product pages, blog posts, and website content with targeted keywords.
• Build Backlinks: Acquire backlinks from reputable websites to improve your store’s authority and search engine ranking.

8. Set Up Customer Service

Providing excellent customer service is key to building trust and loyalty with your customers.

• Offer Multiple Support Channels: Provide customer support through email, live chat, and social media.
• Create an FAQ Page: Address common questions and issues to reduce the volume of support inquiries.
• Respond Promptly: Ensure timely responses to customer inquiries and resolve issues efficiently.

9. Launch Your Store

Once everything is set up, it’s time to launch your store. Announce your launch on social media, through email, and with promotional offers to attract initial customers.

10. Monitor and Optimize

After launching, continuously monitor your store’s performance and look for ways to improve.

• Track Key Metrics: Use tools like Google Analytics to track traffic, conversion rates, and sales.
• Collect Customer Feedback: Encourage customers to leave reviews and provide feedback on their shopping experience.
• Make Data-Driven Decisions: Use insights from your metrics and feedback to optimize your marketing strategies, product offerings, and customer service.

Conclusion

Starting a dropshipping business involves careful planning and execution. By following these steps—choosing a niche, conducting market research, finding reliable suppliers, building an online store, setting up payment processing, developing a marketing strategy, optimizing for SEO, setting up customer service, launching your store, and continuously monitoring and optimizing—you can create a successful dropshipping business. With dedication and effort, you can thrive in the competitive world of e-commerce.

Hi everyone,
I'm currently deploying an application on Amazon EKS and using Nginx Proxy Manager to manage my proxy configurations. However, I've encountered an issue where my application is not showing as secured (no HTTPS).
Here's my setup:

• Amazon EKS cluster
• Nginx Proxy Manager for handling proxy configuration

I've followed the standard setup procedures, but my application still doesn't show as secured when accessed via the browser.
Can anyone provide guidance on what might be causing this issue or what additional steps I might need to take to ensure my application is secured properly?
Do i need to use custom SSL? If that so, which path need to insert custom SSL? Or what did i miss?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Below are my manifest:

#! Client Ingress --- apiVersion: networking.k8s.io/v1 kind: Ingress metadata: name: nginx-proxy-manager-ingress namespace: dev annotations: nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/enable-cors: "true" nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/cors-allow-origin: '*' nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/ssl-redirect: "true" nginx.ingress.kubernetes.io/force-ssl-redirect: "true" spec: ingressClassName: nginx tls: - hosts: - np-nginx-manager-xxx.com secretName: xxxx rules: - http: paths: - path: / pathType: Prefix backend: service: name: nginx-proxy-manager-service port: number: 81 # - path: / # pathType: Prefix # backend: # service: # name: nginx-proxy-manager-service # port: # number: 80 # Deployment --- apiVersion: apps/v1 kind: Deployment metadata: name: nginx-proxy-manager-deployment labels: name: nginx-proxy-manager-deployment namespace: dev spec: replicas: 1 selector: matchLabels: app: nginx-proxy-manager template: metadata: labels: app: nginx-proxy-manager spec: nodeSelector: Type: default SubnetType: xx RunApp: xx Env: xx containers: - name: nginx-proxy-manager-deployment image: jc21/nginx-proxy-manager:latest imagePullPolicy: Always ports: - containerPort: 80 - containerPort: 81 - containerPort: 443 volumeMounts: - name: letsencrypt mountPath: /etc/letsencrypt - name: data mountPath: /data resources: limits: cpu: 1000m memory: 1Gi requests: cpu: 100m memory: 100Mi volumes: - name: letsencrypt - name: data # Service --- apiVersion: v1 kind: Service metadata: name: nginx-proxy-manager-service labels: name: nginx-proxy-manager-service namespace: dev spec: ports: - name: web-ui port: 81 targetPort: 81 protocol: TCP - name: http-port port: 80 targetPort: 80 protocol: TCP - name: https-port port: 443 targetPort: 443 protocol: TCP selector: app: nginx-proxy-manager 

Thanks to all the hoopleheads who commented on my review of the Deadwood movie yesterday (linked below for anyone curious). With the exception of a couple limey cocksuckers, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on the film and gained an appreciation for certain parts of the movie.
There is one major character from the movie I didn't talk about though and that's because I think she deserves her own spotlight, sadly due to just how badly her character and storyline were written.
Calamity Jane is a tragic character in the Deadwood tv series. Spouting some of the most vulgar and hilarious lines in a show filled with hilarious vulgarity, Jane was nevertheless often an object of the viewer's pity due to her chronic and debilitating alcoholism stemming largely from her undeserved self-loathing. By the end of season three, while still not nearly out of the woods that is her addiction, Jane has found some semblance of happiness after rediscovering her passion for caring for others following Mose's shooting, interacting with the school children, and falling in love with Joanie Stubbs.
Jane's addiction (great band) and self loathing stemmed from two demons, as far as I see it: a misplaced desire to be what she could never be - a gun-toting, fearless cowboy of the fabled American West - and a rejection of who she really was - a woman with a nurturing soul but also with some tendencies seen as more traditionally masculine at a time when society's definition of what it meant to be a proper woman was extremely confining. By both falling in love with Joanie and accepting her nurturing nature, Jane both finally dispelled the misbegotten notion that she should be seen as a brave cowboy and also accepted who she really was.
Jane's story line was my favorite because, while my own maturation and self-realizations have been entirely different, similar to Jane my own self-acceptance didn't come after some dramatic event or grand realization. Life simply continued and I was lucky to finally mature enough to accept and love myself for who I am.
And then there's the movie, and not only is Jane's story line a simple rehash of S3 (a complaint made many times by many people about many of the characters) it fundamentally misunderstands what made her storyline satisfying. Fast forwarding past her contrived and rehashed love story with Joanie, Jane heroically shoots Harry Manning just as he was about to treacherously shoot Bullock to free Hearst.
I understand that Harry's assassination attempt mirrors the assassination of Wild Bill Hickock by the coward Jack McCall, lending Jane's rescue some poetic justice, but the idea that Jane's character arc would come to a satisfying conclusion by heroically shooting someone for all the town to see fundamentally misunderstands what was needed for her to find true happiness - self-acceptance not some bold display of traditional cowboy heroics - and what made her character a truly hopeful one by the end of the series.
The image I choose to keep of Jane is of her walking hand in hand with Joanie, leading the children to their new school. She's drunk, she still has her demons, but she's finding her place and learning not to be ashamed of it.
But instead of a nuanced character study with an understated ending that shows an incredible understanding and compassion for the human condition like what we got in the tv show, the movie gives us something pretty. Jane gets to be the heroic cowboy like some 1950's western tv show. In my opinion, this is a misguided way to wrap up a complicated, hilarious, and tragic character arc that had so beautifully shown that real happiness doesn't come from some dramatic display or event like we often imagine, but rather the quiet maturation that comes with learning to love yourself.
Thanks for reading my review. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and as always those who disagree with me suck cock by choice. https://www.reddit.com/deadwood/comments/1crone3/longtime_fan_of_the_show_who_only_just_watched/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Before taking anyone's advice, ask them what they've achieved. If their results aren't impressive, everything they tell you is bullcrap.
I'll introduce you to digital selling stars who are worth following. They're amazing creators, entrepreneurs, and influencers.
First up in the spotlight is IAmPascio aka creatorpascal (I'm not pasting the links to his profiles here, but you can easily find him on X). He helps people be more productive with Notion templates. Check out his stats:

• 105.7k followers on X;
• $200k/year in sales;
• Over 11.5k reviews under his products on Gumroad.

What are his main features?

Nurturing the X community

Consistency and value are key, as always. There are daily experiments in his content:

• images
• threads
• photos
• catchy offers
• reposts of successful posts

And looooooads of value. Plus, constant engagement with followers, along with reflection on content results, gets him an X account that converts.

A storefront that sells

You won’t earn a dime if your product looks like crap. Here's what you have to do with every single product:

• perfect thumbnail and advanced illustrations, which are useful, not just shiny
• well-structured description with even more visual data
• testimonials are a must
• FAQ

When your products are ready, build upsells. Combine your products into bundles. Your customers get more value for less money, you get a higher average purchase—win-win.
And use lead magnets—free but decent products that attract more potential customers to your store.

Mastering marketing tools

Smart diversification does the job. Choose platforms with different types of content, like X and YouTube. Think about their potential and don’t try to grab them all at once, you probably won't make it.
A hidden gem idea from Pascio is to launch on Product Hunt. A decent launch can bring you a few thousand visitors and $10k in 24 hours.
Additional free/paid communities on Skool or Heartbeat might also give you a bigger audience.

If you've got any burning questions about who is better, what you should do with you budget, or what abilities are worth it - comment below.
​
You can now post images directly into your comment below. Recommended lineup templates are available on Mut.gg and Muthead. Optionally, you can link images of your team from imgur or link to a post in your account's subreddit.
​
All requests for player reviews will be directed here. All posts involving lineup decisions will be directed here. All posts involving abilities will be directed here.

I weirdly miss that one friend I had in high-school that was extremely toxic to me and overall just not a good friend. I can't explain why I miss her, or if i even miss her in general or if it's just the nostalgia but it has made me pretty sad those past few weeks because I can't stop thinking about everything we went through together.
For some context, we met in high-school and were extremely close. Our friendship was quite unusual as I was the weird kid and she was the beautiful & tall popular girl and gave a bit of a mean-girl vibe. We did not share a lot in common but somehow we got along super well, or I thought so. It took me years to realize that I was in fact just desperate for some kindness coming from 'popular' kids as I was always getting picked on by them.
We were inseparable : she taught me how to be more feminine, how to dress better and because of the huge influence she had on me, I started to like the same things as her. I did a 360° on my life and went from the weird kid to the pretty and slightly popular girl (and to be honest I loved the attention I was getting). However, I do remember she kept me around like a dog in some way and subtly belittled me all the time but I never payed to much attention.
When we graduated and started uni (both at the same one for our first year), she had a flat (she was super rich and could afford to live alone at 18) where she invited me very often. We had tons of sleepovers.
However, she was in a toxic relationship that ended pretty badly at that time and she became extremely underweight. I was there to help her and came to her flat to cook for her every two days, clean her flat for her (as she was depressed and didn't do anything) and overall took care of her like a mother for 4 months straight. She never thanked me for it, but I did not do all this to be thanked, for me it was normal to help a friend in need.
When she got better, that's when she began having a toxic attitude towards me and our friendship completely changed. She constantly picked on me for my appearance, giving me backhanded compliments such as 'ugh I'm so obese (she was still very skinny, like a top model), I wish my fattness looked good like it does on you', 'You eat so much, I could never ! I would love to be like you and not care about weight !' etc. The thing is, she KNEW I was struggling with body image and viewed myself as overweight although I was also skinny, I'm just very short with a large lower-body (hips) that can sometimes give the illusion that I'm on the thicker side.
She also started to weirdly shame me for casually dating and having hookups (I grew up in a strict household and never had a boyfriend. I did casually date and flirt with guys once I got to uni and regularly slept with one (1) guy but she still slutshamed me about it). She became religious out of the blues and constantly shamed me for 'messing around' with a guy whom I'm not even in a relationship with. It hurted me quite and even when I told her it hurted my feelings she kept on going.
I had a messy relationship with a second guy the second year of uni and it ended very badly. I got very very depressed for weeks and didn't even go to uni anymore, just like how she was with her own toxic ex. Needless to say she was not there for me, not even once. In truth, she even ghosted my messages and only checked up on me to help her on a project for her own uni-course (I did law, she did business). When I accepted to help her through Facetime, she badmouthed how lazy and ridiculous I was and how it was 'gross and lame' to be sad like that. I later (1 year later) learned through my ex when he contacted me to apologizes once and for all that she hooked up with him while I was depressed and that she talked mad sht about me to him while the were cuddling after hooking up. He even sent me the snapchat-memories they took together at dinner that night and I was baffled.
When I got back on my feet and got back to school, I learned how she talked about my private sex-life to all of our common friends and even to her own male friends. She told them everything I ever did, who I slept with throughout my whole life (which was just 3 guys but apparently for her it was enormous) and basically created me a slut-'reputation'. I never understood why and was to ashamed to confront her about it. I acted like none of it affected me when in reality it almost sent me over the edge and made me suicidal.
And when I tried to talk to new guys (for friendship or for flirting), she would always somehow find a way to talk to them too and continue to nourrish that sluttish reputation she created around me, which obviously made the guys uninterested or worst, more interested but for the wrong reasons.
Then covid came and I moved to another city. Thankfully, because of covid I never had to go back in person to school and graduated online !!! I never saw her again and took the opportunity to cut things off completely. I 'broke up' our friendship two years ago by simply stopping initiating conversation with her on social media and declining her latest offer to come spend the night at her house. It felt liberating.
But now... I do have some nostalgia about the '''good''' moments we had together but I also keep reliving all the sadness and shame she made me feel throughout the years. I miss her, or I miss the illusion of a friendship we had, I don't know. I just feel so sad. I had the urge to contact her again to rekindle but I knows it's the worst idea ever and I won't ever do it but idk, i'm just so sad.

Hostinger is a popular web hosting provider known for its affordability, intuitive interface, and robust features. Whether you're starting a personal blog, an online portfolio, a small business website, or an e-commerce store, Hostinger offers the tools to get you online quickly and easily.
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Why Choose Hostinger?

• Affordable: Hostinger offers competitive pricing, especially for new users.
• User-Friendly: Their website builder is designed for beginners, requiring no coding knowledge.
• Feature-Rich: You get access to various features, including templates, e-commerce tools, SEO optimization, and more.
• Reliable: Hostinger boasts high uptime and good performance.
• Customer Support: They offer 24/7 live chat support to assist you.

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Step-by-Step Guide

1. Sign Up for a Hostinger Account:
   • Visit the Hostinger website.
   • Choose a hosting plan that suits your needs (e.g., Single Web Hosting, Premium Web Hosting, Business Web Hosting).
   • Create an account by providing your email address and a password, or sign up using your Google or Facebook account.
2. Choose a Domain Name (or Use an Existing One):
   • If you don't have a domain name, you can purchase one through Hostinger during the signup process.
   • If you already own a domain, you can point it to Hostinger by updating the nameservers in your domain registrar settings.
3. Select Your Website Building Method: Hostinger offers two primary ways to build your website:
   • Hostinger Website Builder: This is the easiest option for beginners. It provides a drag-and-drop interface with a variety of customizable templates.
   • WordPress: WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that offers more flexibility and customization options. Hostinger provides a one-click WordPress installation.
4. Build Your Website:Hostinger Website BuilderWordPress
   • Choose a template that matches your website's purpose.
   • Customize the template by adding your content (text, images, videos), changing colors, fonts, and layouts.
   • Use the drag-and-drop interface to easily add elements like galleries, contact forms, maps, and more.
   • Explore additional features like blogs, online stores, and integrations with social media platforms.
   • Install WordPress with one click from your Hostinger hPanel.
   • Choose a WordPress theme that aligns with your website's design and functionality.
   • Install plugins to add extra features like SEO optimization, contact forms, security enhancements, and e-commerce capabilities.
   • Customize your website by adding pages, posts, menus, widgets, and more.
5. Optimize for SEO:
   • Use relevant keywords throughout your website's content.
   • Optimize your images with descriptive file names and alt text.
   • Create a sitemap and submit it to search engines.
   • Use Hostinger's SEO toolkit to analyze and improve your website's visibility.
6. Publish Your Website:
   • Once you're satisfied with your website, click the "Publish" button.
   • Your website will be live and accessible to visitors!

Additional Tips

• Regularly Update Content: Keep your website fresh and engaging by adding new content regularly.
• Monitor Website Performance: Use tools like Google Analytics to track website traffic and identify areas for improvement.
• Back Up Your Website: Regularly create backups of your website to protect against data loss.

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Example: Creating a Blog on Hostinger
Let's say you want to start a blog about your travels. You can use the Hostinger Website Builder and select a blog template. Customize it with your photos, travel stories, and tips. Add a contact form so readers can reach out, and integrate social media buttons to share your posts. With Hostinger, creating and managing your blog is a breeze.
Important Considerations

• Choose the Right Plan: Assess your website's needs in terms of storage, bandwidth, and features to select the appropriate hosting plan.
• Consider Scalability: If you anticipate your website growing significantly, choose a plan that allows for easy upgrades.
• Security: Enable SSL certificates to encrypt data transmitted between your website and visitors.
• Performance: Optimize your website's speed by compressing images, enabling caching, and using a content delivery network (CDN).

Advanced Features
Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore Hostinger's advanced features to enhance your website:

• E-commerce Tools: Set up an online store using Hostinger's built-in e-commerce features or popular platforms like WooCommerce (for WordPress).
• Marketing Integrations: Connect your website to email marketing tools, social media platforms, and analytics platforms to track your performance and reach a wider audience.
• Custom Code: If you have some coding knowledge, you can add custom HTML, CSS, or JavaScript to further customize your website's appearance and functionality.
• Developer Tools: Hostinger offers features like SSH access, Git integration, and staging environments for developers who want more control over their websites.

Upgrading Your Hosting Plan
As your website grows, you might need more resources. Hostinger makes it easy to upgrade your hosting plan to accommodate increased traffic and storage needs.
The Hostinger Community
Hostinger has an active community forum where you can connect with other users, ask questions, and get help from experienced webmasters.
Conclusion
Building a website with Hostinger is a straightforward process, even if you have no prior experience. Their intuitive website builder, one-click WordPress installation, and robust features make it easy to create a professional-looking website in no time. Whether you're a blogger, an entrepreneur, or a creative professional, Hostinger provides the tools and support you need to establish your online presence and achieve your goals.
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Freelancing can be an incredibly rewarding career path, offering flexibility, independence, and the opportunity to work on a variety of projects. However, to succeed as a freelancer, you need the right tools to manage your business efficiently. Whether you are a seasoned freelancer or just starting out, having a well-stocked toolkit is essential. In this blog post, we will explore some must-have tools that every freelancer should consider incorporating into their workflow. At the forefront of our list is Feedcoyote, a comprehensive tool designed to streamline and enhance your freelancing experience.

1. Feedcoyote: The Ultimate Freelancing Companion

Feedcoyote is a powerful platform tailored specifically for freelancers. It offers a range of features that help you manage your projects, clients, and finances seamlessly. Here’s why Feedcoyote should be your go-to tool:
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Project Management

Feedcoyote allows you to keep track of all your projects in one place. You can create project timelines, set milestones, and track progress effortlessly. The intuitive interface makes it easy to manage multiple projects simultaneously without feeling overwhelmed.

Client Communication

Effective communication is key to freelancing success. Feedcoyote provides a centralized hub for all your client interactions. You can send messages, share files, and receive feedback directly through the platform, ensuring that nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

Invoicing and Payments

One of the most challenging aspects of freelancing is managing invoices and payments. Feedcoyote simplifies this process by allowing you to create and send professional invoices, track payment statuses, and even set up automated reminders for overdue payments. This feature helps you maintain a steady cash flow and reduces the time spent on administrative tasks.

Time Tracking

Accurate time tracking is crucial for billing clients and managing your workload. Feedcoyote includes a built-in time tracking tool that lets you log hours spent on each project. This data can be easily integrated into your invoices, ensuring transparency and accuracy.

Financial Insights

Feedcoyote provides insightful financial reports that help you understand your earnings, expenses, and overall financial health. This information is invaluable for budgeting, tax preparation, and long-term planning.

2. Trello: Visual Project Management

Trello is a popular project management tool that uses a card-based system to help you organize tasks and projects visually. Each project can be broken down into boards, lists, and cards, making it easy to see what needs to be done and when. Trello’s flexibility and user-friendly interface make it a favorite among freelancers for managing both personal and professional tasks.

3. Slack: Communication and Collaboration

For freelancers working with remote teams or multiple clients, Slack is an essential communication tool. It allows you to create channels for different projects, teams, or topics, making it easy to keep conversations organized. Slack also integrates with many other tools, such as Google Drive, Trello, and Feedcoyote, streamlining your workflow.

4. Grammarly: Writing Assistant

Good communication is crucial for freelancers, whether you’re drafting emails, creating content, or writing reports. Grammarly is an AI-powered writing assistant that helps you improve your writing by checking for grammar, punctuation, and style errors. It also offers suggestions for clarity and conciseness, ensuring that your writing is polished and professional.

5. Canva: Design Made Easy

As a freelancer, you often need to create visually appealing content, whether it’s for social media, presentations, or marketing materials. Canva is a versatile design tool that allows you to create stunning graphics with ease. It offers a wide range of templates, images, and fonts, making it accessible even if you have no prior design experience.

6. Toggl: Simple Time Tracking

Toggl is a straightforward time tracking tool that helps you monitor how much time you spend on different tasks. It’s perfect for freelancers who need to track billable hours or simply want to understand how they’re spending their time. Toggl’s reports provide valuable insights that can help you optimize your productivity.

7. Zoom: Virtual Meetings

Virtual meetings have become a staple of modern freelancing. Zoom is a reliable video conferencing tool that allows you to host meetings, webinars, and virtual events with ease. Its features include screen sharing, recording, and breakout rooms, making it ideal for client consultations and team collaborations.

8. Google Workspace: Productivity Suite

Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) includes a suite of productivity tools such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. These tools are essential for document creation, storage, and collaboration. The seamless integration between these apps enhances your ability to work efficiently and share information with clients and collaborators.

9. LastPass: Password Management

As a freelancer, you likely use numerous online tools and services, each requiring a secure password. LastPass is a password manager that stores and encrypts your passwords, allowing you to access them easily and securely. This tool helps you maintain strong, unique passwords for all your accounts, reducing the risk of security breaches.

10. Wave: Free Accounting Software

Keeping your finances in order is crucial for freelancing success. Wave offers free accounting software that helps you manage your income, expenses, and invoices. It also provides features for bank reconciliation, receipt scanning, and financial reporting. Wave’s user-friendly interface makes it accessible even if you have limited accounting experience.

Conclusion

Equipping yourself with the right tools can make a significant difference in your freelancing journey. Feedcoyote stands out as a comprehensive solution that addresses many of the challenges freelancers face, from project management to invoicing. Alongside other essential tools like Trello, Slack, and Grammarly, Feedcoyote can help you streamline your workflow, improve communication, and enhance your overall productivity. By investing in these tools, you can focus more on what you do best and less on administrative tasks, paving the way for a successful freelancing career.

I’m 15 right now, and something that eats my heart away is that iam still a virgin. Not just a normal virgin. A incel turbo virgin. For a while now I’ve been wanting to lose my virginity so bad. I want to have sex so bad. Everyday at school I get so hard the whole class thinking about having sex and it eats my brain away because I cannot have sex and I will not be having it anytime soon. Because iam a shy incel that does not know how to talk to girls. Iam so horny I’m on different level. A while back I tried hiring a prostitute off instagram dms. I was so shaky while I was texting this girl. We were so close to meeting up and she sent me nudes and videos and photos and stuff. I told her I was underage and she said she was fine with it. I had to let her know. She was gonna drive around my area and we were gonna get a hotel to have sex in. I was gonna pay 100$ for 2 hours of sex. I was GENUINELY shaking so hard while getting ready to send the money. But before I sent it, I decided to reverse google image search one of the photos she sent me. Turns out it was a fucking scam. I was disappointed. Not because I almost got scammed. But because I didn’t get laid. If I was older and had a car I’d prolly have a better chance of finding a prostitute on the street. But unfortunately, I’m gonna have to wait a year or 2. The most wildest thing I’ve done was actually a few days ago. A few days ago I wanted to masterbate with a condom on, to make me feel as I was the one having sex. During lunch I snuck out of my school and went over to cvs and bought some latex lube condoms. I was gonna wait around midnight to masterbate with them on but I should’ve known my horniness got the best of me. I jerked off with the condom 1 hour after getting back from school. It actually felt like I was the one about to have sex. And it was my first time trying a condom. I still have 2 more. Iam very sad because I turn 16 in 14 days. (The 29th). And iam still no where near gonna lose my virginity, or have a girlfriend and it makes me sad and unmotivated. Me horniess is the reason I can’t do shit. Im just to horny thinking about having sex and I don’t know what to do or how to control it. And it’s only gonna get worse over time. I look at all the girls with good body’s full of lust and I can’t control it. I think I need help. What do I do?

“What do you mean it’s wrong?” said Tamara, becoming frustrated with Samuel.
“I'm trying to tell you that plants do not eat earth. They just absorb nutrients from it,” Samuel replied, equally annoyed as this was the fourth time he had explained it. “Look, just take my word for it, OK,” he added.
“Fine, but you will have to explain it again,” Tamara retorted.
Samuel and Tamara were partners in a scientific study of their forest home. It was genuinely idyllic in every sense of the word; the trees stretched high into the sky, and everyone was covered in succulent leaves, a deep and gorgeous shade of green. Around their trunks were rings of flowers gathered from every continent, and a thick carpet of grass lay on the ground.
The two sat underneath a chestnut tree, writing up their findings for the day. It had focused mainly on tree sizes and growth rates, and they had continued this study for, on and off, almost a year.
Samuel turned to look at his assistant and found that she was just as remarkable as the day they had first met: golden locks, like living sunlight, tied neatly in a bun. Her eyes were an emerald green, and all in all, she was gorgeous. However, it was when you came to her waist that things became truly incredible because rather than a pair of legs, there was a long and wide snake’s tail.
It was huge, at least seven metres long and as wide as her torso. The scales were the same beautiful colour as her hair and reflected the sunlight in such a way that she appeared to glow. She was wearing an ultramarine tunic with a black diamond in the centre. She was like this not because of a plague, a curse or some mutation; Tamara was a Lamia; it was how she was born.
Samuel, on the other hand, looked far less impressive. He was around five foot ten, with dull brown hair and equally dull eyes. His stomach stuck out from the rest of him. No amount of exercise was able to get rid of it.
He was by every description a ‘dull as dishwater’ human. His clothes, however, were slightly more interesting. He wore a navy blue tunic with a thick leather belt wrapped around his waist. On his feet was a pair of excellent leather boots, able to withstand whatever the world threw at them and on his forearms and shins, he wore something Tamara had never seen or even heard of before: a pair of vambraces and greaves, Samuel called it armour.
Three strips of rugged leather layered on top of one another made up each piece, and between each layer was a collection of tiny metal beads. When Tamara asked what they were for, Samuel said they were for protection.
All of this would have been inconceivable to Samuel two years ago, but he had become used to it in time. Samuel was not born into this world; he had arrived. How? He did not know, but he remembered it all vividly; his senses had been overloaded, and at first, he believed he had died.
“What’s wrong?” Tamara asked Samuel, who had been silent for over a minute.
Samuel snapped out of his daydream and said: “nothing, just thinking about that day again.”
Tamara nodded and said nothing else; she knew exactly what was wrong.
Samuel went straight back to writing. When Samuel first showed up, there had been no paper or pens, but what was even stranger than the lack of these apparent necessities was that Samuel had had to invent both of these items.
Tamara and those like her did not possess a written language; they relied entirely on their memories, and until Samuel had shown up, Tamara had not even conceived of the notion, but she had picked it up astonishingly quickly.
“It still sounds like eating to me,” said Tamara, bringing the conversation back to the original topic.
“Well, it isn’t; eating requires a mouth and stomach,” Samuel replied.
“Says who?” Tamara asked defiantly.
“Says me,” Samuel answered.
Samuel jotted down the last of his notes and left the pages to dry in the sun. Samuel then turned to his right and looked at a large book, the size of a chair’s seat, bound in yellow leather and knotted by animal tendons. He picked it up and began to leaf through the pages.
His eyes glanced over paragraphs about oak trees and orchid flowers until he finally reached the section he sought; the page was titled Silver Birch (Betula Pendula).
“Have you finished the drawing on Silver Birch yet?” Samuel asked without looking.
Tamara was currently focused on a drawing of sunflowers, but she understood his request and, without looking up or saying a word, handed him the picture he wanted.
Samuel took the drawing and took several moments admiring it. Like all her work, the picture was astounding; not only did it look like an actual Silver Birch, but it also seemed to be alive, as though it would start blowing in the breeze.
Samuel punched four holes along the sheet's left side, undid the tendon strings and then attached the drawing behind the title page. He added eight more pages to his book, four of text and four illustrations.
Their work was now done; there was no more writing or drawing today, and he placed their work into a knapsack Tamara had brought with her. Samuel turned to his partner and asked: “so what do you want to do now?”
Tamara looked up through the canopy and could make out the silhouettes of several birds and finally said: “I’d quite like to fly.”
Samuel smiled, chuckled and said, “Yes, so would I, but that would require every member of the village working together for decades.”
Tamara looked Samuel in the eye and said: “are you making fun of me?”
Samuel did not reply; he just looked Tamara dead in the eye. She observed every minute twitch on Samuel's face and concluded he was not.
“How could a person fly?” She asked, suddenly intrigued.
“I don’t know, I’m not an engineer,” Samuel answered, “So apart from flying, what else do you want to do?”
Tamara let out a sigh and said: “I guess we will just have to walk.”
These were the moments Samuel lived for, just a quiet afternoon with his best friend enjoying a stroll; he was utterly content.
“You seem chipper,” Tamara said, noticing the growing smile on Samuel’s face.
“That’s because I feel chipper” he replied
They passed through the trees, heading towards their favourite spot, a beach by the side of a lake so large you could not see the other side.
“So, how is everyone?” Samuel said, trying to spark a conversation.
“You mean every single one because that could take a while?” Tamara replied.
“Let’s start with your mother” he clarified.
Tamara’s mother, Pancha, was more or less just a larger version of her daughter, just as brash and headstrong.
“She’s fine; she has finally stopped asking me what happened every time I come to meet you,” she said.
“Really, and it only took her two and a half years,” said Samuel with a smirk.
Yes, that first year here, had been a real trial. Samuel had never felt so scared, isolated and persecuted in his life. When he thought about it, he could still feel the fear and the hopelessness.
A gust of air slammed into Samuel’s face, bringing him back to the present, and what a wonderful time it was. The water was crystal clear, the beach was covered in sparkling white sand, and the distinct aroma of water wafted through the air. Samuel breathed it all in as Tamara spread herself over the beach.
The cooling breeze that Samuel found so enjoyable, Tamara found far less agreeable. Tamara was ectothermic or cold-blooded. She could not maintain her body temperature; she needed to absorb it from her environment, and the wind was slowly draining her.
“Comfortable down there?” Samuel asked.
Tamara turned her head, looked up at him and said: “Actually, yes, not as good as my bed, but still fine.”
Samuel left Tamara to her thermoregulation and strolled down to the water’s edge, “stay where I can see you!” Tamara called.
“Yes, MOM,” Samuel answered sarcastically, though he knew it was more for Tamara’s sake than his; she had a problem with open spaces.
Samuel closed his eyes, stretched his arms above his head, feeling his muscles strain against the tension, and yawned. Small tears formed in his eyes and wiped them away. He had only been up for a few hours but was ready for bed.
“Too much thinking, that was the problem,” Samuel mumbled to himself.
The sunlight sparkled on the water’s surface. It seemed as though millions of diamonds were suddenly brought into existence, danced for a few moments, and then vanished as quickly as they came. It was beautiful, just like everything else here.
He climbed up a rock that jutted from that sand and sat down, his legs dangling over the edge. As he kicked his legs, a ray of sun caught his greaves, and although the leather was rather dull, it still dazzled him.
Samuel heard a sound reminiscent of sandpaper brushing against wood, and he knew at once what it was. He waited four more seconds and said, without moving an inch, “Don’t even think about it!”
“How did you know?” Tamara asked, feeling simultaneously impressed, confused and disappointed.
Samuel looked her in the eye and replied: “who do you think you’re dealing with?”
Tamara had not clambered up the rock like Samuel; she had simply raised herself on her tail so she stood over two metres high.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked.
Tamara smiled and answered, “yes, thanks for asking.”
Tamara moved behind Samuel and then began to coil around the boulder, and if he had not experienced it all before, it would have been unnerving. Tamara was only twelve and a half, yet she was already far stronger than him. Samuel was sure if Tamara really wanted to, she could crush a bison to death. After the graceful dance around the stone, she sat down beside Samuel.
The pair was silent for a few minutes, except for a quick coughing fit by Samuel; they took in the unnatural beauty of their surroundings.
“Hey, I have a question,” said Tamara, coming back to her senses.
“What is it?” Samuel replied.
“You still haven’t told me why we are studying the forest?” She asked.
In an instant, Samuel became deeply confused. To him, it seemed all too obvious why they were doing it.
“There is no practical reason for doing it. We do it so that we know,” Samuel answered.
Tamara became silent. Samuel realised that she was deep in thought and decided to give her all the time she needed until she finally said: “Is this one of those human things?”
Samuel, upon hearing this, gave a small chuckle and answered: “yes, if you like.”
Suddenly, something caught Samuel’s eye. It was a crab, no bigger than a golf ball. Its back was powder blue, and it held its arms upright, its claws pointing down. The tiny creature would walk forward, scoop some sand into its mouth, and then leave a small pellet behind.
“Look at that!” said Samuel, nudging Tamara’s shoulder and pointing at the tiny crustacean. Tamara turned her head and looked directly at where he was pointing; she strained her eyes at what she thought was a pebble; she was about to climb down and collect it when it suddenly moved, and she squealed.
Tamara dragged the bottom end of her tail up from the beach and timidly said, “What’s that?”
Samuel remembered that tone of voice all too well, and it brought with it some unpleasant memories, but he pushed them to the back of his mind and said: “it’s a crab.”
Samuel was certain he had seen this type of crab before but could not put a name to the image. Samuel was sure he had read about them, watched a documentary, or attended a lecture, but he could not remember. Ultimately, he decided to drop it for now and see if the answer would come to him.
Tamara kept staring at it as though she believed it would pounce if she took her eyes off it for one second.
“Is it dangerous?” she asked, her voice hushed to ensure the creature did not notice her.
Samuel sighed and answered: “it’s a crab, Tamara, unless you happen to be a nematode then…”
Samuel paused mid-sentence as his brain finally connected the dots and asked, “Wait, you have never seen a crab before?”
This perplexed Samuel for a moment until he remembered that Tamara did not have a television, a car, and she could not fly a plane, so it was not unexpected that she would not know what a crab was.
Tamara shook her head in response to his question, and Samuel added: “you know what a woodlouse is, right?”
Tamara nodded and said, “I like woodlice.”
“Well, a crab is just a type of woodlouse that lives near water,” Samuel concluded.
However, he could tell from her face that she was unconvinced, so he got off the rock, walked over to the tiny creature, wary of its pincers, and picked it up by its backside.
“What are you doing?” Tamara called in alarm.
Samuel held the animal, its legs flailing wildly in an attempt to escape, and said, “showing you there is nothing to be worried about.”
Taking care not to crush it, Samuel clambered back up the rock and presented the animal to her. Tamara stared at it for some as the crab bobbed its eye up and down and tried in vain to find a part of Samuel it could nip.
“It’s actually kind of… cute,” Tamara said after two minutes of silence.
She relaxed her tail and let it rest on the beach once more. “Can it hold it?” She asked Samuel, fear being replaced by interest.
“Of course, you can. Just make sure you hold it by its back and be careful of the pincers; if they get you, it will hurt.”
Samuel handed the crab over to her and watched as Tamara began to inspect the animal from every angle. The crab had a white underbelly and purple joints.
“You think you could draw it from memory?” Samuel asked.
“Hmm?” Tamara replied. Samuel let out a sigh and repeated. After three more attempts, Tamara finally took notice and said, “Yes.”
Five minutes later, Samuel said, “we should probably put him back now.”
Tamara moaned about it, but Samuel said: “he has his own life, Tamara; you can’t keep him!”
She conceded, grumbling under her breath, and gently placed the animal back on the sand. As the crab dashed away, the two noticed that while they had been fixated on that single crab, thousands more had emerged on the beach.
Upon seeing the swarm of animals make their way across the beach, Tamara let out a squeal and once again pulled her tail up off the beach. The army of crabs marched along the shore. The collective walking produced a sound loud enough to hear from fifty metres away, and at last, Samuel remembered what they were and said, with no small amount of satisfaction in his voice, “they’re soldier crabs.”
“What are they going to do?” Tamara asked, concerned by the sudden appearance of so many creatures.
Samuel kept staring at the gathering, but he heard her question and replied, “They’re just feeding,” and added quickly, “But we are far too big for them.”
“That's odd,” Samuel said under his breath.
“I know there are so many of them,” Tamara said, deeply unnerved by the sheer vastness of the swarm.
“No,” Samuel said, “There should be this many of them; it’s where they are that is strange.”
Tamara momentarily took her eyes off the army and asked, “So where should they be.” There was a slight flicker of fear in her voice at the prospect of being invaded; rats and mice where bad enough. They did not need another pest.
“By the sea, not a freshwater lake,” he answered.
“The Sea?” Tamara almost yelled. Samuel was a little surprised by this enthusiasm and turned to face her.
“Yes,” he said.
“Have you ever been to the sea,” she asked.
“Yes, many times,” Samuel said, uncertain where this was going.
“I bet it’s wonderful,” Tamara added with a smile.
Samuel was silent as his brain connected a few dots and asked: “how can you know about the sea if you don’t know about crabs?”
She smiled; Tamara enjoyed it when she knew something that he did not, “there is a story that my mom told me that before we came to this forest, we were a different people that lived by the sea.” Tamara paused for a breath.
“But then humans came and drove us from the water, and we fled inland. Our people split into two. One half went to the mountains, and the other settled in the forest.”
Tamara finished and waited for his reply. Samuel, however, just kept looking at her. Tamara was concerned that she had upset him; he did not like it when humans were labelled as the enemy, yet his face and posture were not those of one who was sad or angry.
“You people blame us for everything, don’t you?” Samuel said with a chuckle.
“If there is a fire, it’s a human’s fault. If there is an earthquake, it’s a human’s fault. If a little Boreray boy drinks all their apple juice in one gulp, it’s a human’s fault.”
“So, getting back on topic, where did these “Soldier crabs” come from anyway? We have visited this lake for over two years and never seen even a glimpse?” Tamara asked. Samuel looked back to the slowly advancing army, and several ideas flashed through his head.
“Maybe they have been dormant up until now; perhaps they make a large circle around the lake shore, and it’s simply luck that we were here on the day they passed by, or maybe the migrated here from somewhere else.”
They watched the crabs' ceaseless march until Tamara said, “These things are still giving me the creeps. Can we go now?” Samuel could not argue that there was something eerie about all of these animals appearing, seemingly, from nowhere; however, there was still one thing he had to be certain of.
“You think you could draw one from memory?” he asked.
Tamara’s face contorted in a scowl. Samuel, for all his good points, could become far too focused on his research, which often caused him to become ignorant of other people.
Yet she knew sitting here yelling at him would accomplish nothing, so she told him the truth: “Yes, can we go now!” Samuel nodded and then slid off the rock. Tamara copied him, and they both slinked back to the cover of the trees.
Now that she was beneath the canopy, Tamara let out an enormous sigh of relief as the anxiety slowly left, and the close air warmed her body. On the other hand, Samuel began to chafe at the stagnant air while his head began to bead with sweat, but it was nothing he had not experienced before, so he gritted his teeth and bared with it.
With their plans now ruined, Tamara and Samuel wandered aimlessly through the woods, chatting about what they could do to fill the rest of the day. Several ideas arose, including visiting a nearby waterfall and a set of monument stones, but none truly appealed to them.
In the end, Tamara said, “how about we just call it a day?”
Samuel was happy about this. Tamara was his only form of human contact, yet he could not deny the pointlessness of wandering around the woods, so he said, “Ok, but let’s take the long way.”
Samuel heard a sound above him and saw a red squirrel scampering through the trees.
“Is it difficult?” Tamara asked.
Samuel looked at Tamara and replied, “Well, it can give me a crick in my neck sometimes.”
Tamara let out a short laugh and clarified, “No, I mean, is it difficult being so inquisitive? It looks exhausting.”
He was not entirely sure what she meant by that. To Samuel, Tamara was every bit as curious as him, so he stated: “you tell me, you went out looking for me just because you wanted to know.”
“True,” answered Tamara, “and everyone has always said that I am always asking questions, but you’re like a boar that just ate sugar beat.”
“I have no idea what that means,” Samuel said, shaking his head. “But I do know that people always told me, when I was a boy, that humans are, by their nature, infinitely curious, but personally, I think that it’s just how I was born.” there was a pause, and he quickly added, “just like you.”
Tamara’s fingers started to numb as she brushed them against the bark of passing trees. She took a good look at the trees around her. Tamara had lived her entire life sheltered by these trees. This place was her home, her family’s home and her friend’s home, and she loved it, a perfect example of the innate beauty of nature.
Samuel, however, was of a different opinion this forest disturbed him, though this feeling had diminished with time. The trees all grew in perfect symmetry, four and a half strides form each other.
From Tamara’s perspective, there was nothing strange about this, yet Samuel often said that this should not be possible, that the wood should be a mess and that the trees should grow in an unorganised fashion. Yet to Tamara, the idea of messy forests was just as impossible as a structured one was to him.
Noon came and went, and Samuel’s stomach began to rumble. His breakfast was becoming a distant memory; he thought he might be able to bear it for another hour or so, but as they travelled closer to the village, Tamara started to become irritated by Samuel’s constant growling.
“We need to find you something to eat before that sound drives me nuts!” Tamara stated bluntly.
“That’s all well and good, my dear, so long as you can materialise food out of the aether,” answered Samuel, with just a hint of condescension in his voice.
Tamara did not know what the aether was, but it did not matter. “No, but I do know a nearby tree with some great fruit in it,” she replied.
Samuel found this strange for two reasons. Firstly, he found it very difficult to believe there was a source of food in this forest that either he had not found, or Tamara had not told him about yet.
Secondly that, Tamara would know much about something she could not eat. Tamara was strictly carnivorous; she ate nothing but meat.
He wanted answers fast and asked: “So why haven’t you told me about this before?”
“Because I can’t stand the smell, that’s why, and I didn’t want you stinking up the place,” she explained.
“If it smells disgusting, what makes you think I will eat it?” he asked.
“Because the Boreray can’t get enough of it, some of them say that they taste like all the best parts of every fruit and vegetable we grow, which is a shame because they smell like all the worst,” she added.
He asked no more questions. He was too busy thinking; this fruit sounded so familiar, but he could not remember. The need to survive day in day out had pushed most of his standard learning, from school and university to the back of his mind, not forgotten mind you just buried.
I'm back with Tamara and Samuel latest adventure. If you like what you've read so far and want to know where it's going you can find the complete story by following the links below.
e-book(US/UK/CA/AU/DE)
Physical(US/UK/CA/DE)
If you do decide to read ahead please leave a review or rating, every single one helps immensely, and helps me keep doing what I'm doing.
Also the e-book will be at a reduced price until the last chapter it published on reddit.

Hey there, let's talk about Elementor – the game-changer in website design! It's like this super cool page builder for WordPress that lets you whip up awesome websites like a pro, without breaking a sweat. We're diving into what makes Elementor tick, all the cool features it's got, and why it's totally changed the game for web design. Get ready to be amazed!
What is Elementor ? Elementor is like the ultimate cheat code for building awesome websites on WordPress. It's this rad drag-and-drop page builder that lets you customize your site without having to know any fancy coding stuff. It hit the scene back in 2016 and quickly became a favorite among folks who want to make killer websites without all the hassle. It's super easy to use, packed with tons of cool features, and has a massive library of design stuff to play around with. It's basically every website builder's dream come true!
Features and Functionality:
Check out what Elementor brings to the table:
Drag-and-Drop Editor: No coding needed! Elementor's drag-and-drop editor lets you design your site right before your eyes. Just grab stuff from the sidebar and drop it wherever you want on the page for a killer layout.
Customizable Widgets: You've got a ton of widgets to play with – text, images, buttons, sliders, you name it. And the best part? You can tweak everything from fonts and colors to spacing and animations to make them totally your own.
Template Library: Say goodbye to boring templates! Elementor hooks you up with a bunch of pre-designed templates for all parts of your site – headers, footers, pages, you name it. Just pick one that fits your vibe and customize it to match your style.
Responsive Design: Your site needs to look good on every device, right? With Elementor, you can create designs that look awesome on desktops, tablets, and phones without breaking a sweat.
Theme Builder: Forget messing around with extra plugins – Elementor's got you covered with its Theme Builder feature. Design custom headers, footers, and more right from the Elementor interface for total control over your site's look.
Global Widgets and Styles: Want to keep things consistent across your whole site? Elementor's got your back with global widgets and styles. Create once, use everywhere – easy peasy!
Elementor requires reliable web hosting to ensure smooth operation; a slow server can significantly impact your website's speed. Let's explore the articles on this topic: Best web hosting according to reddit.
Benefits of Using Elementor:
Here's why Elementor is awesome:

1. Easy to Use: Whether you're a total newbie or a coding whiz, Elementor's interface is super easy to get the hang of. Just drag and drop stuff where you want it – easy peasy!
2. Saves Time and Money: Building a website can be pricey and time-consuming, but not with Elementor. It cuts down on all the fancy coding stuff, so you can get your site up and running in a flash without breaking the bank.
3. Get Creative: With Elementor, you're the boss of your website. Customize every little detail to make it totally your own – the possibilities are endless!
4. Join the Crew: Elementor's got a cool community of users, developers, and designers who are always ready to lend a hand. Plus, there are tons of tutorials and support resources to help you out whenever you need it. It's like having your own website-building squad!

In a nutshell, WordPress Elementor Page Builder has totally changed the game for website design. It gives you crazy flexibility, lets you get super creative, and helps you work way faster. Whether you're a pro at coding or just starting out, Elementor's easy-to-use interface, awesome features, and cool community make it the go-to choice for making killer WordPress sites. So, ditch the limits and unlock your website's full potential with Elementor.
In today's digital world, having an online presence is a must. Elementor is leading the charge, making web design accessible to everyone and helping businesses and individuals create awesome online experiences. So jump on the Elementor train and take your web design skills to the next level!

Hey everyone, I'm curious to hear people's take on this topic. I'm sure its been talked about before but I can't seem to find it specifically in this thread and so I wanted to check in.
What are people's thoughts on Sex/Masturbation/Porn in relation to their Queerness and their Catholic faith?
Is there absolutely no room/space for Porn when committing ourselves to Christ?
I ask because on one hand our Queer communities very heavily focuses on Sexuality and the physical act of sex. So much so we are incredibly sex positive, call for more support to sex workers, and really tap into freedom in regards to hook up culture, sex positivity, and a hard attack on sex shaming. I even came across a Queer Christian (Non-Catholic) take on this idea that Queer people are hyper sexual because we are so admonished for our rights to act on sex that in turn, by acting on it we're rebelling against repression and permitting ourselves the gift which God gave us.
On the Catholic side of things, we're basically taught that sex and sexuality is more in line with monogamy, marriage, and procreation and that anything outside of that is wrong and immoral.
I personally struggle with both sides of things. I'm an Gay male and Demisexual and I very heavily lean on romance and emotions over sex. I would 1000 % would rather hold hands and go on a romantic date with a man than hook up all day any day. I've always been in line with monogamy and am open to sex however only in a committed and monogamous relationship.
Sadly, I have not met the right man yet, maybe never will, and so direct physical sex has not been something I have experienced in a long time. The extent of my experience with sexuality in the past 10 years has been watching porn and having common kinks which I indulge in through porn but other than that I do not seek hook ups out.
Off late though I have been wondering about porn/masturbation/lust and just have felt a pull away from that too. My main inner dialogue has been that by watching porn , and with my fetishes, I seem to internally objectify other men and desire them in a way that doesn't make me feel good.
I try to remind myself that there's MORE to my queerness than just sex and however I can't seem to reconcile that by fully committing to Christ I am giving up on my queerness to an extent.
Just a few minutes before writing this, I was watching a Catholic Priest on Youtube who prays on different topics. The one I watched was a prayer to "Break contracts with satan". The priest talks about how the contracts can be formed inadvertently and during the prayer he asks us to pause and let whatever thought or message come through.
When I paused, the thought that organically came to me was "Masturbation" . When I analyzed it, I organically felt it was not the actual act of masturbation that was being brought up but the intentions lay behind the act ie; hyper fixating on men and in effect using their image as a means to an end which I fully agree isn't right. It dehumanizes them.
I feel that this is satan's entire goal, to dehumanize, objectify, and then toss away humans when we clearly are God's children and infinitely filled with his love and compassion.
Anyways, this sparked my question and makes me wonder where do I go from here?
I personally have cut down on masturbation and porn A LOT and feel quite good.
I just wonder however if this compromises my Queerness. I wonder if this makes me abnormal ? But also I don't think it does . I prayed to God and an internal revelation has been that he is preparing me , cleansing/purging me from old obsessive ways of operating so that when he does send me a partner one day, if he does , I will be ready and capable with my capacity to love instead of being "stunted" which porn seems to do.
Sorry for the long post but thank you for letting me share!

import 'dart:convert'; import 'package:fluttematerial.dart'; import 'package:flutter_map/flutter_map.dart'; import 'package:flutter_map_marker_clusteflutter_map_marker_cluster.dart'; import 'package:latlong2/latlong.dart'; import 'dart:ui' as ui; import 'dart:typed_data'; import 'package:http/http.dart' as http; import 'package:testingmap/cluster_test.dart/animation.dart';

void main() { runApp(const MyApp()); } class MyApp extends StatelessWidget { const MyApp({super.key}); @override Widget build(BuildContext context) { return const MaterialApp( home: MapScreen(), ); } } class MapScreen extends StatefulWidget { const MapScreen({super.key}); @override _MapScreenState createState() => _MapScreenState(); } class _MapScreenState extends State { List shops = []; late Map markerIcons; bool isLoading = false; String error = ''; late SlideUpWidget slideUpWidget; late VoidCallback toggleSlideUp; @override void initState() { super.initState(); markerIcons = {}; fetchShops(); slideUpWidget = SlideUpWidget( child: Container( height: 200, decoration: BoxDecoration( color: Colors.red, borderRadius: BorderRadius.only( topLeft: Radius.circular(20), topRight: Radius.circular(20), ), ), child: Center( child: Text( 'Shop Information', style: TextStyle(color: Colors.white, fontSize: 18), ), ), ), ); toggleSlideUp = slideUpWidget.createState().toggle; } Future fetchShops() async { setState(() { isLoading = true; error = ''; }); const token = "eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpZCI6NTQsImlhdCI6MTcxMzIzMjQwOCwiZXhwIjoxNzI2MTkyNDA4fQ.hdJsGEMYRAAEs5y6RERuT2TNJTBUITkWy-7FarMc_C4"; // Replace with your actual token try { final response = await http.get( Uri.parse('https://api.carcare.mn/v1/shop'), headers: {'Authorization': 'Bearer $token'}, ); if (response.statusCode == 200) { final jsonData = json.decode(response.body)['data']; if (jsonData != null) { setState(() { shops = jsonData.map((data) => Shop.fromJson(data)).toList(); }); await loadMarkerIcons(); } else { setState(() { shops = []; }); } } else { setState(() { error = 'Failed to load shops (${response.statusCode})'; }); } } catch (e) { setState(() { error = 'Error fetching data: $e'; }); } finally { setState(() { isLoading = false; }); } } Future getMarkerIcon(String imageUrl) async { try { final response = await http.get(Uri.parse(imageUrl)); if (response.statusCode == 200) { return response.bodyBytes; } else { print('Failed to load image: ${response.statusCode}'); return null; } } catch (e) { print('Error loading image: $e'); return null; } } Future loadMarkerIcons() async { for (var shop in shops) { Uint8List? markerIcon = await getMarkerIcon(shop.thumbnail); if (markerIcon != null && markerIcons[shop.id]!.isNotEmpty) { markerIcons[shop.id] = markerIcon; } else { markerIcons[shop.id] = await MarkerGenerator.defaultMarkerBytes(); } } setState(() {}); } @override Widget build(BuildContext context) { List markers = shops.map((shop) { return Marker( width: 80, height: 80, point: LatLng(shop.location.latitude, shop.location.longitude), child: GestureDetector( onTap: toggleSlideUp, child: Container( child: markerIcons[shop.id] != null && markerIcons[shop.id]!.isNotEmpty ? Image.memory(markerIcons[shop.id]!) : Icon(Icons.location_on, color: Colors.red), ), ), ); }).toList(); return Scaffold( appBar: AppBar( title: const Text('Map with Markers'), ), body: Stack( children: [ isLoading ? Center(child: CircularProgressIndicator()) : FlutterMap( options: MapOptions( initialCenter: LatLng(47.9187, 106.917), initialZoom: 10, ), children: [ TileLayer( urlTemplate: 'https://tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png', userAgentPackageName: 'com.example.app', ), MarkerClusterLayerWidget(options: MarkerClusterLayerOptions( markers: markers, builder: (context, markers) { return Container( width: 80, height: 80, decoration: BoxDecoration( shape: BoxShape.circle, color: Colors.blue, ), child: Center( child: Text( markers.length.toString(), style: TextStyle(color: Colors.white), ), ), ); }, ),) ], ), slideUpWidget, ], ), ); } } class Shop { final int id; final String name; final String description; final String phone; final String type; final List additional; final String thumbnail; final List bannerImages; final List branches; final List schedules; final Location location; final List services; Shop({ required this.id, required this.name, required this.description, required this.phone, required this.type, required this.additional, required this.thumbnail, required this.bannerImages, required this.branches, required this.schedules, required this.location, required this.services, }); factory Shop.fromJson(Map? json) { return Shop( id: json?['id'] ?? 0, name: json?['name'] ?? '', description: json?['description'] ?? '', phone: json?['phone'] ?? '', type: json?['type'] ?? '', additional: List.from(json?['additional'] ?? []), thumbnail: json?['thumbnail'] ?? '', bannerImages: (json?['bannerImages'] as List?) ?.map((bannerImage) => BannerImage.fromJson(bannerImage)) .toList() ?? [], branches: List.from(json?['branches'] ?? []), schedules: List.from(json?['schedules'] ?? []), location: Location.fromJson(json?['location'] ?? {}), services: List.from(json?['services'] ?? []), ); } } class BannerImage { final int id; final String name; final String path; final String fileMimeType; final int fileSize; final int fileWidth; final int fileHeight; BannerImage({ required this.id, required this.name, required this.path, required this.fileMimeType, required this.fileSize, required this.fileWidth, required this.fileHeight, }); factory BannerImage.fromJson(Map json) { return BannerImage( id: json['id'] ?? 0, name: json['name'] ?? '', path: json['path'] ?? '', fileMimeType: json['fileMimeType'] ?? '', fileSize: json['fileSize'] ?? 0, fileWidth: json['fileWidth'] ?? 0, fileHeight: json['fileHeight'] ?? 0, ); } } class Location { final int id; final double longitude; final double latitude; final String address; final dynamic city; final dynamic country; final dynamic province; final dynamic subProvince; final dynamic street; Location({ required this.id, required this.longitude, required this.latitude, required this.address, this.city, this.country, this.province, this.subProvince, this.street, }); factory Location.fromJson(Map json) { return Location( id: json['id'] ?? 0, longitude: json['longitude'] ?? 0.0, latitude: json['latitude'] ?? 0.0, address: json['address'] ?? '', city: json['city'], country: json['country'], province: json['province'], subProvince: json['subProvince'], street: json['street'], ); } } class MarkerGenerator { static Future defaultMarkerBytes() async { final recorder = ui.PictureRecorder(); final canvas = Canvas(recorder, Rect.fromPoints(Offset(0, 0), Offset(100, 100))); final paint = Paint()..color = Colors.red; canvas.drawCircle(Offset(50, 50), 50, paint); final picture = recorder.endRecording(); final img = await picture.toImage(100, 100); final byteData = await img.toByteData(format: ui.ImageByteFormat.png); return byteData!.buffer.asUint8List(); } } 

Before my company makes a (another) mistake in selecting a course authoring tool, I figured I'd ask you fine people your thoughts about which platforms to look into.
Our current authoring tool isn't even worth mentioning, but we use Brainshark as our LMS.
We need to train:

• New hire onboarding
• Step by step software use (Salesforce, Power Bi, etc.)
• Sales concepts
• Product knowledge

We require:

• SCORM 1.2 output
• Interactive learning activities
• WYSIWYG
• Automatic mobile formatting
• In-browser review capability by non-authors
• Roleplay/scenario activities
• The final course to NOT look like a PowerPoint presentation

Nice to have:

• AI text translation
• Detailed assessment reporting
• Custom templates
• Optional microlearning format

I just described Articulate, didn't I? lol Do we need to pay for EVERYTHING Articulate comes with though? If we do, we will, but if there's a less expensive option or a better fit, I'd like to explore it.
TIA!